Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLA)

Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs) work under the supervision of a Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT), performing the practical components of sample analysis. MLAs sort, prepare and sometimes process samples that will be tested and analyzed by a MLT. MLAs often collect samples, such as blood, and are the laboratory professional that likely interacts directly with patients.

There are thousands of different tests that are performed in specialty areas of the medical laboratory sciences.